Challenger Center Awarded Grant from Constellation, an Exelon Company

Funding Will Support New Energy Science Education Program

WASHINGTON (December 7, 2016) – Challenger Center, a leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education organization, received a $25,000 E2 Energy to Educate grant from Constellation, an Exelon company, for the development of an energy-focused program that will introduce students to energy science and careers.

“We are so pleased to be chosen by Constellation to help enhance students’ understanding of science and technology, and inspire them to think differently about energy,” said Lance Bush, president and CEO, Challenger Center. “It is an honor to be aligned with a company that believes in our STEM mission and demonstrates a commitment to preparing today’s students to solve the challenges of the future.”

In addition to an overview of energy science and careers, the eight-hour program will include a hands-on, team-based research challenge and an opportunity to interact with energy professionals. The program design will offer maximum flexibility for delivery in- or out-of-school and be piloted with 100 DC students in late 2017. All of the resources will also be made available to the organization’s 43 Challenger Learning Centers for use with students in their communities.

“Our programs excite students about STEM subjects and expose them to an array of STEM careers,” said Bush. “This new energy science-focused program perfectly complements our current offerings, builds on our 30-year experience providing STEM-education opportunities to students, and allows us to add this important layer – energy – into the mix.”

Challenger Center was one of 17 programs selected to receive an E2 Energy to Educate grant. Since its inception in 2010, Constellation’s Energy to Educate grants program has provided over $2.6 million in funding for 85 student projects. This year the company awarded nearly $400,000 to projects reaching more than 35,000 students nationwide.

To learn more about Challenger Center and its STEM education programs visit challenger.org.

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center and its network of Challenger Learning Centers use experiential, education programs to engage students in dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities. These programs strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L: Dick Scobee, Gregory Jarvis, Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Michael J. Smith. Learn more at challenger.org. Connect on Facebook @ChallengerCtr and Twitter @ChallengerCtr.

About Constellation
Constellation is a leading competitive retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. Constellation’s family of retail businesses serves approximately 2.5 million residential, public sector and business customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Baltimore-based Constellation is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2015 revenues of approximately $34.5 billion, and more than 32,700 megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation’s cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. Learn more at www.constellation.com or on Twitter at @ConstellationEG

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Media Contact:
Lisa Vernal
Challenger Center
202-827-1573
lvernal@challenger.org